Back Injury Lawsuits
When a person sustains a serious injury to the back, neck, or spinal cord, it’s important to speak with a personal injury attorney. The Daytona Beach and Palm Coast, FL lawyers of Chanfrau & Chanfrau understand just how devastating such injuries can be to individuals as well as their loved ones.
Below, we’ll briefly go over the causes of back injuries and the effects they can have on a person’s life. Remember that our law firm is here to help you in your time of legal need.
Causes of Back Injuries
Back injuries may be sustained from all sorts of accident and actions. Since our focus is on negligence cases, we’ll restrict our list to instances in which another person may be at fault:
- Auto Accidents - Motor vehicle collisions of all kinds can lead to serious spinal cord and neck injuries.
- Slips and Falls - Falls and slips should not be taken lightly, especially if the fall was from a great height.
- Sports Injuries - Contact sports and combat sports can lead to serious trauma to the body, the neck and back included.
- Workplace Accidents - People in physically demanding jobs such as construction face a number of hazards that could lead to neck or back injury.
- Physical Altercations - Assaults and other kinds of fights or altercations can lead to serious harm to the spine.
Types of Back Injuries
Some of the common back injuries that may be sustained include:
- Herniated discs
- Fractured vertebrae
- Whiplash
- Pinched nerves
- Sprains and strains
We’ll focus on back injuries that result in partial or total paralysis below.
The Long-Term Impact of a Back Injury
The long-term effects of a back injury should not be glossed over. Some back injuries may require spinal surgery to repair the damage that was done. This can be expensive and take months of recovery and physical rehabilitation.
Even if a patient recovers from the back injury, the long-term effects can be serious. Issues with back stability and movement may persist for years after the injury was sustained. This can lead to lost earning potential and could even necessitate a change in career.
Paraplegia and Quadriplegia
Paraplegia and quadriplegia are two of the most serious kinds of back injuries that can be sustained. Paraplegia involves lower spinal cord damage, resulting in the loss of sensation and use of the legs and lower body. Quadriplegia involves spinal cord damage around the upper back and cervical spine, which can render a person completely paralyzed from the neck down.
In both paraplegia and quadriplegia, a person’s life and livelihood are severely altered. Not only will these injuries result in people being bound to a wheelchair for life, it affects all aspects of their existence. Quadriplegics in particular will require assistance with all aspects of their daily life, and may even require 24-hour medical monitoring and care.
Legal Damages in Back Injury Cases
Given the impact that back injuries can have on a person in the short-term and long-term, damages sought in these cases reflect this.
Compensatory damages can be sought for medical care, physical rehabilitation, lost wages, lost earning potential, and the cost of future medical needs. Punitive damages may also be sought to punish the negligent party for the harm they’ve caused. Loss of consortium claims are not uncommon in these cases given the changes in spousal or parental roles as a result of a back injury that leads to a permanent disability.
Speak with Skilled Personal Injury Lawyers
If you have suffered a serious back injury and would like to learn about possible legal options, be sure to contact our team of personal injury attorneys. You can reach Chanfrau & Chanfrau’s location in Daytona Beach by calling (866) 610-0653 and the law firm’s location in Palm Coast by calling (386) 439-7760.